Joshua 23 13

Joshua 23:13 kjv

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Joshua 23:13 nkjv

know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua 23:13 niv

then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua 23:13 esv

know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua 23:13 nlt

then know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the LORD your God has given you.

Joshua 23 verses

Joshua 23 13 Meaning

Joshua 23:13 declares that if Israel fails to drive out the remaining nations and intermarries with them, the LORD will no longer assist them in dispossessing these peoples. Instead, these nations will become sources of affliction, hindrance, and continuous torment, eventually leading to Israel's complete destruction and expulsion from the promised land given by God. It warns of severe, escalating consequences for disobedience and compromise with the surrounding pagan cultures.

Joshua 23 13 Context

Joshua chapter 23 contains Joshua's solemn farewell address to all Israel, delivered before his death. He reminds them of the great things the LORD their God has done for them, fulfilling all His promises (vv. 1-5). He then exhorts them to be steadfast in their devotion to the LORD, to keep His commandments, and to maintain separation from the surrounding pagan nations (vv. 6-8). Joshua emphasizes that God had already given them victory when they obeyed (vv. 9-10). The present verse, verse 13, serves as a direct and grave warning, outlining the inevitable and devastating consequences should they disobey God's command to utterly drive out the remaining Canaanites and avoid intermarriage. It underscores the conditional nature of their continued enjoyment of the promised land and warns against the subtle but corrosive influence of syncretism and pagan practices.

Joshua 23 13 Word analysis

• For (kî - כי): Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding warning in verse 12 regarding mingling with the remaining nations and intermarrying.
• know (yāda‘ - ידע): This Hebrew word means more than intellectual knowledge; it signifies an experiential, deep, and intimate understanding or realization. It implies knowing through consequences.
• for certain (tēḍĕʿû - תדעו): The repetition of the root yāda‘ emphasizes the absolute certainty and undeniable truth of the statement. It's a forceful confirmation: "You shall truly know," or "You shall surely understand."
• that (kî - כי): Another conjunction introducing a direct statement, reinforcing the inevitability.
• the LORD your God (YHWH 'ĕlōhêkem - יהוה אלהיכם): Emphasizes the covenant relationship and God's sovereignty. "YHWH" (the tetragrammaton) highlights God's personal, immutable, and covenantal nature, while "'Elohekem" reminds them of His specific relationship with Israel as "your God."
• will no more (lō' yōsîp - לא יוסיף): Implies a cessation of God's prior active assistance. He will not continue the help previously rendered for driving out the enemies.
• drive out (lĕhôrîš - להוריש): To dispossess, to cast out. This was a continuous act of God's power.
• any of (‘ôḏ min - עוד מן): Not even one more, completely ceasing the expulsion.
• these nations (hag·gôyim hā’ēlleh - הגוים האלה): Refers specifically to the remaining pagan inhabitants of Canaan (Canaanites, Hittites, etc.). They were morally corrupt, engaged in idolatry and detestable practices, posing a direct threat to Israel's purity.
• from before you (mippĕnêkem - מפניכם): "From your presence," "before your face." This indicates the direct cessation of divine power acting on Israel's behalf, removing the nations from their sight and territory.
• but (wəhāyû - והיו): Introduces a shift; these nations will remain and become something else.
• they shall be (lāḵem - לכם): "They will become for you" – indicating a consequence for Israel.
• snares (môqēš - מוקש): A trap, a gin, especially one set for birds or wild animals. Metaphorically, it implies something that entangles, entraps, and leads to ruin through spiritual and moral seduction.
• and traps (ûpakh - ופח): A related term, often translated as a snare, net, or fowler's trap. This emphasizes entrapment and sudden capture. The combined phrase "snares and traps" denotes an insidious, encompassing, and inescapable danger.
• whips (lĕšuṭ - לשוט): Literally a scourge or whip. It denotes physical pain and punitive discipline, but here metaphorically refers to persistent, painful affliction and oppression.
• in your sides (bĕtsiddêkem - בצדיכם): Directly against the most sensitive, vulnerable part of the body, indicating deep, internal, and pervasive suffering and irritation. It implies constant distress that one cannot escape.
• and thorns (ûtsnînîm - וצננים): Prickly plants or spines, which constantly prick and wound.
• in your eyes (bĕ‘ênêkem - בעיניכם): Figuratively, a constant irritant that affects perception, causing persistent distress, blurred spiritual vision, and preventing clear sight of God's path. It affects their ability to see blessings or direction.
• until (‘ad-'ăšer - עד אשר): Marks the progression towards an inevitable outcome.
• you perish (tō’ḇēḍû - תאבדו): To be destroyed, to be ruined, to waste away. This implies not just individual death, but the collective destruction and cessation of their national existence in the land.
• from off this good land (mê‘al hā’ārets haṭṭôḇâ hazzō’ṯ - מעל הארץ הטובה הזאת): Highlights the loss of God's great gift. "Good land" underscores the bounty and blessing bestowed upon them. Their removal from it would signify the reversal of all God's promises related to their dwelling.
• which the LORD your God has given you ('ăšer YHWH 'ĕlōhêkem nāṯan lāḵem - אשר יהוה אלהיכם נתן לכם): A concluding reminder of God's grace and their unfaithfulness, amplifying the irony and tragedy of losing such a gracious gift through their own disobedience.

Words-group Analysis:

• "know for certain that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you": This phrase asserts God's immutable decision and commitment. The emphatic "know for certain" leaves no room for doubt regarding the consequence of Israel's actions. It signifies a divine withdrawal of active participation in Israel's military success, stemming directly from their lack of obedience.
• "they shall be as snares and traps for you": This imagery points to the insidious and entrapping nature of unremoved foreign influence. These nations would not only be physical enemies but moral and spiritual hazards, drawing Israel into idolatry, intermarriage, and wicked practices, just like an animal is caught in a trap.
• "and whips in your sides and thorns in your eyes": This vivid parallel imagery conveys the painful, constant, and inescapable nature of the affliction. "Whips in your sides" denotes internal torment, pain that penetrates deep into their very being, constantly irritating and causing anguish. "Thorns in your eyes" speaks of physical and spiritual discomfort that hinders their vision, causes blurred perception, and represents incessant vexation. The imagery highlights distress that is deeply personal and prevents clarity, whether physical sight or spiritual understanding.
• "until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you": This phrase details the ultimate and gravest consequence: complete national ruin and expulsion from the land God graciously bestowed upon them. It's the reversal of the Exodus and conquest narratives, illustrating God's covenantal faithfulness, not only in blessing but also in judgment. The descriptor "good land" serves as a stark contrast to the outcome of their impending destruction, amplifying the loss of God's prior favor.

Joshua 23 13 Bonus section

This verse highlights the principle of divine retribution where the instrument of sin becomes the instrument of judgment. The very nations Israel failed to displace would become the source of their torment. This serves as a critical warning against spiritual apathy and partial obedience, emphasizing that a failure to completely remove idols or influences that hinder a walk with God will inevitably lead to deep distress and spiritual decline. It underlines the necessity of complete commitment to God, rather than a divided heart that seeks to live with elements of the world while claiming faithfulness to God. The language here foreshadows the entire historical narrative of Judges and beyond, explaining the repeated cycles of apostasy, oppression, and partial deliverance experienced by Israel, directly linking their suffering to their disobedience in this matter. This principle applies equally to individual believers today: areas of unaddressed sin or compromise can become severe "thorns" and "snares," leading away from fellowship with God and from experiencing the fullness of His blessings in one's spiritual "good land."

Joshua 23 13 Commentary

Joshua 23:13 delivers a stark and unconditional warning from a dying leader. It is a profound statement on divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience, particularly focusing on spiritual compromise. The verse establishes that God’s assistance in the conquest was conditional upon Israel’s faithful obedience. Should they fail to completely purge the land of its pagan inhabitants, not only would God cease His active support in their behalf, but those very nations, initially intended for utter destruction, would transform into agents of Israel's downfall. The imagery of "snares and traps," "whips in your sides," and "thorns in your eyes" vividly portrays a slow, agonizing process of spiritual erosion, moral compromise, and constant societal irritation and affliction, ultimately leading to their demise. This is not merely physical conflict, but a deeply insidious spiritual battle. The final outcome – "perish from off this good land" – is the antithesis of the Abrahamic covenant, underscoring the severity of God's righteous judgment against national apostasy and spiritual infidelity. This verse serves as a crucial theological bridge between the initial conquest and the cycles of disobedience detailed in the book of Judges. It reflects the truth that neglecting to eradicate evil influences from our lives inevitably leads to our own undoing, hindering our spiritual progress and separating us from the blessings of God.

• Example: A Christian consistently chooses to spend time with friends who actively mock their faith and engage in ungodly behaviors, ignoring spiritual boundaries. Over time, these friendships become "snares" as they draw the believer away from spiritual disciplines, their resolve weakens, and their faith is compromised, leading to a state of spiritual barrenness and potential ruin, "perishing" from a vibrant relationship with God.
• Example: A church or denomination compromises biblical truth by adopting secular values and philosophies in the name of relevance or social acceptance. Instead of being a light, these external influences become "thorns in their eyes," distorting their vision, causing internal division, and leading to spiritual impotence, eventually causing the body to "perish" in its effectiveness and witness.